ROCHESTER — Greetings: First I want to let you know that I wasn’t happy when I read my last column, because only 95 percent was written by me. The person I gave it to told me he had changed a couple of things. I said that was OK as long as it was politically correct. (But it wasn’t.) To set the record straight, I did not say I did not win my re-election. My name was on the ballot automatically because I was president. I told the Rochester Veterans Council (RVC) members I was stepping down and I wanted Dennis Sellers to take my place. As you remember, in my column before last, I said I was stepping down due to my health and age (76). I will still be with the RVC, as now I am an alternate for American Legion Post 7.

I also wrote that I would like to thank Al Benton for guiding me through my year as president. He was always only a phone call away, and four houses up the street from my house. Al is a vet’s vet. I think he and Norm Dodier were made from the same mold. Norm too, was only a phone call away…we all miss you, Norm! I also want to thank my Aide-de-Camp, Jon Anderson for typing all my letters and making the plaques that I gave to different individuals and organizations. That was also omitted from my column.

You might remember that I wrote my last column at the Lilac Mall, while selling “Red Friday Shirts” and pins. Thank you so much for the generous support from the vets and the community. We raised over $1,400 which included $400 in donations. The profits will go into our general fund. I can’t thank Club Victoire enough for making this fundraiser possible.

I forgot to mention that our president, Dennis, went to Wakefield to pick up Kathy Frolehing to bring her to our vet luncheon at Riverside. Afterwards, they brought a dinner back to the Wolfeboro Hospital for her husband John. The last meat raffle John ran for the American Legion Riders raised over $600 for the RVC Lunch Fund. I hope your next operation goes well, we all miss you. May God be with you.

Our coffee hours with the vets have been going great! The chef at the Rochester Manor did a great job last Wednesday. It was like a buffet in Vegas! I’d like to welcome two new vets from the Manor. A lady from the Navy, and a guy from the Army, who, as it turns out, both have the same first name, Lee!

Monday I went to Riverside Rest Home to pick up Rita Croteau (past Unit 7 Auxiliary President) who is now a resident at Riverside, Room 320. First I took her to Granite Steak and Grill for dinner, since she was hungry. They have great senior meals at senior prices. We topped off the meal with strawberry shortcake. Both the meal and service were great! After we ate, I took her to her house to pick up some clothes to bring to Riverside.

This morning when I got back from the Pink Cadillac Diner where we had our Red Shirt Friday breakfast, there was a message on my answering machine from Frank Cole. He wanted to know if I could bring him to visit his wife. I told him it would not be a problem. I’ll be picking him up at 6 p.m. to bring him back to the Manor.